Special prosecutor assigned to handle Quinn's drug case

Conflicts of interest are behind former county executive's request

Alysia Sant, Times Union

By Alysia Santo

Published 9:38 pm, Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Albany County District Attorney David Soares poses for a portrait during an interview in which he talks about his reelection campaign, on Tuesday May 15, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

Albany County District Attorney David Soares poses for a portrait...

Christine Quinn, left, the deputy Albany County executive and her attorney, Michael McDermott, leave Colonie Town Court following her arraignment on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013 in Colonie, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Quinn requested a special prosecutor be appointed to her case in late October, according to court documents, because she was concerned about "conflicts of interest," since, in her former position, she made budgetary decisions that directly affected the district attorney's office and also had "an impact on an employee who has a close personal relationship with the district attorney himself."

Soares, who has referred to Quinn as "near and dear," had previously said he would not recuse his office from the case.

When asked by a reporter in September if he would step aside to make way for a special prosecutor, Soares said "On what basis?"

A spokesperson for Soares said he is prohibited from further commenting on the matter.

The district attorney's office consented to Quinn's motion based on her concerns about conflicts and "the potential appearance of impropriety that this highly unusual situation presents," though court records indicate Soares' office maintained that "no actual conflict exists."

Albany County Judge Stephen Herrick assigned PJ Blanchfield, a former assistant district attorney in Albany, as special prosecutor.

Quinn returned to work for Albany County as chief information officer last week, two months after her arrest on charges she convinced a nurse to give her extra Ritalin pills, a controlled substance, even though her prescription had already been filled.

During Quinn's time off, she was paid at the rate of her former job as deputy — a little more than $100,000 a year.